Flooring device for positioning on joists

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A floor apparatus for forming a floor over exposed joists in an attic, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid panels arranged adjacent to each other in a series, each of the panels having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of relatively shorter and opposite end edges and a pair of relatively longer and opposite side edges; and connecting means located at a juncture between each of the panels in the series for connecting each panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel in the series, the connecting means permitting adjacent panels of the series to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to each other; wherein the pivot axis of the connecting means at a first juncture of the series of panels is positioned adjacent to the top sides of the panel adjacent to the first juncture such that the panels adjacent to the first juncture are pivotable to bring the top sides of the adjacent panels together but incapable of pivoting to bring the bottom sides of the adjacent panels together; wherein the pivot axis of the connecting means at a second juncture adjacent to the first juncture is positioned adjacent to the bottom side of the panels adjacent to the second juncture such that the panels adjacent to the second juncture are pivotable to bring the bottom sides of the adjacent panels together but incapable of pivoting to bring the top sides of the adjacent panels together; wherein the series of panels are foldable in accordion fashion between a collapsed condition and an extended condition; wherein each of the panels has at least one aperture formed therein and extending therethrough between the top and bottom sides, the apertures of the panels being adapted for receiving fasteners through the apertures such that the fasteners are engageable to the floor joists; and wherein a plurality of apertures extends along the end edges of each of the inner panels and along at least one outer edge of the outer panels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the panels comprises a plastic material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side edges of the panels have a length of approximately 4 feet and the end edges of the panels have a length of approximately 2 feet.

4. A floor apparatus for forming a floor over exposed joists in an attic, the apparatus comprising a plurality of substantially rigid panels arranged adjacent to each other in a series, each of the panels having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of relatively shorter and opposite end edges and a pair of relatively longer and opposite side edges; connecting means located at a juncture between each of the panels in the series for connecting each panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel in the series, the connecting means permitting adjacent panels of the series to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to each other, the pivot axis of the connecting means at one juncture of the series of panels being positioned adjacent to the top sides of the panel adjacent to the juncture and the pivot axis of the connecting means at an adjacent juncture being positioned adjacent to the bottom side of the panels adjacent to the juncture such that the series of panels are foldable in accordion fashion between a collapsed condition and an extended condition; and a plurality of rigid elongate members to reinforce the panels, each of the elongate members being mounted on the bottom sides of each of the panels.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least two of the elongated members are attached to each of the panels.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the elongate members is oriented substantially parallel to the side edges of the panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the rigid elongate members is mounted on a central portion of each panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein opposite ends of the rigid elongate member are in spaced relationship to the end edges of the panel such that the rigid elongate member is positionable between the joists when edge portions of the panels are rested flush on the joists.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the rigid elongate members has a length, the length of each of the elongate members being generally between 3 feet and 31/2 feet.

10. A floor apparatus for forming a floor over exposed joists in an attic, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid panels arranged adjacent to each other in a series, each of the panels having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of relatively shorter and opposite end edges, and a pair of relatively longer and opposite side edges; connecting means located at a juncture between each of the panels in the series for connecting each panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel in the series, the connecting means permitting adjacent panels of the series to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to each other, the pivot axis of the connecting means at one juncture of the series of panels being positioned adjacent to the top sides of the panel adjacent to the juncture and the pivot axis of the connecting means at an adjacent juncture being positioned adjacent to the bottom side of the panels adjacent to the juncture such that the series of panels are foldable in accordion fashion between a collapsed condition and an extended condition; wherein the connecting means at each juncture comprises at least one hinge connecting the adjacent panels to each other; wherein each of the panels has at least one aperture formed therein and extending therethrough between the top and bottom sides, the apertures extending along the end edges of each of the inner panels and along at least one outer edge of the outer panels, each of the apertures of the panels being adapted for receiving fasteners through the apertures such that the fasteners are engageable to the floor joists; wherein each of the panels comprises a plastic material; a plurality of rigid elongate members to reinforce the panels, each of the elongate members being mounted on the bottom sides of each of the panels; wherein at least two of the elongated members are attached to each of the panels; wherein each of the elongate members is oriented substantially parallel to the side edges of the panel; wherein each of the rigid elongate members is mounted on a central portion of each panel; wherein opposite ends of the rigid elongate member are in spaced relationship to the end edges of the panel such that the rigid elongate member is positionable between the joists when edge portions of the panels are rested flush on the joists; wherein each of the rigid elongate members has a length, the length of each of the elongate members being generally between 3 feet and 31/2 feet; wherein the side edges of the panels have a length of approximately 4 feet and the end edges of the panels have a length of approximately 2 feet.